The around-the-neck design of LG's Tone Ultra Bluetooth earphones isn't for everyone, but a secure fit, solid audio performance, and a reasonable price ($119.99) make it worth checking out. It's just a tad more expensive than similar options that tend to distort, and far less expensive than most of the higher-end Bluetooth offerings that aren't as ideal for the gym. The Tone Ultra is not flawless; it would be nice if its gym-friendly design was actually waterproof and easily cleanable with water. Still, the Tone Ultra's positives, like its secure fit and JBL-tweaked sound signature, outweigh its negatives, even if its quirky design and bass-boosted default audio profile keep it from overtaking the Editors' Choice JayBird BlueBuds X.

//Compare Similar Products

DesignVisually, not many earphones out there resemble the Tone Ultra, which is available in white and black versions. The controls are worn around the neck, with short, adjustable cables that ascend upward to the in-canal earpieces. At 1.1 ounces, the Tone Ultra is quite lightweight, and it's easy to forget that it's there at all. The neck strap is very flexible, and should fit just about any body type.

The right-hand side of the necklace-like section of the headphones holds playback controls, along with the Power switch and a micro USB port with a snap-shut cover for the included charging cable. No dedicated charger is included, so you'll have to connect the headphones to your computer or use a phone charger to charge them.

The left-hand side holds Volume Up/Down (which work independently of your device's volume controls) and Call Answer buttons along with the microphone. Holding down both Volume controls simultaneously toggles between listening modes: Bass Boost (which is the default), Normal (which strangely isn't the default), and Treble Boost. I didn't find it as easy as I would have hoped to memorize controls on the Tone Ultra. I'm sure this would change with time, but I do wish it were a little easier to operate; despite the intentions of the neck controls, you can't easily see all the buttons you may wish to use.

An additional switch on the left-hand panel controls the active noise cancellation circuitry. While the latter does indeed lower some of the ambient room noise, it also adds plenty of high frequency hiss, like the noise you might hear on an old cassette tape. It's not a deal breaker, nor is it surprising in this price range. For truly effective noise cancellation, unfortunately, you'll need to spend more money even for a wired pair, like the Editors' Choice Bose QuietComfort 20 (which aren't very gym-friendly).

The Tone Ultra ships with three pairs of eartips and a USB charging cable. It doesn't come with a carrying case or pouch. While the Tone Ultra seems to be marketed toward exercise enthusiasts, it's important to note that the earphones are not waterproof. They can handle a certain level of moisture, but you would be wise to find a carrying pouch to keep them dry in gym bags, poolside, or when heavy rain interrupts your workout. And do not try washing them in the sink, as you can with some competing gym earphones like the Monster iSport Immersion.

Pairing the Tone Ultra is a quick and simple process. It showed up on our iPhone 5s Bluetooth pairing menu within seconds of powering up, with no need to hold down any type of pairing button on the earphones. It can be connected to two devices simultaneously, which makes it possible to have call waiting between two connected devices. LG estimates the battery life of the Tone Ultra at approximately 10 hours of talk time or 20 days of standby time. The Tone Ultra takes 2 hours to fully charge.

PerformanceArmed with JBL Signature Sound, meaning JBL tuned the drivers but did not manufacture them, the LG Tone Ultra delivers some notably deep bass. The Knife's "Silent Shout," which has serious sub-bass content, is delivered with a healthy, booming dose of low-end thump. If you blast both earphones and source device at maximum volume, there is no distortion at all. However, the earphones also seem to not get as loud as most competing pairs typically do. This is great news for your hearing, but a possible drawback if you tend to listen to music in loud environments.

On Bill Callahan's "Drover," with the default Bass Boost mode selected, his baritone vocals and the drumming get far too much low-end. It doesn't get muddy, however, thanks to plenty of high-end treble sculpting that his voice still has the edge it needs to stay in the forefront of the mix. Regardless, it still sounds unnaturally bass-heavy. Fortunately, you can switch to Normal or Treble Boost modes to reduce this effect, though I would recommend avoiding the latter mode since it make songs sound a bit nasally and pinched. The Normal mode tames the bass boosting significantly, leaving you with a clean, natural-sounding mix on tracks like this.

On the other hand, the Bass Boost mode makes Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild" sound exciting. The Normal mode still sounds more natural and less tweaked, but both offer a solid listening experience. You obviously get more of the sub-bass synth hits and more low frequency sustain on the kick drum loop when you go with the boosted bass, but the vocals are always clear in both modes, and the high-mid presence in both modes is solid.

Classical tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams' "The Gospel According to the Other Mary," sound heavily boosted in the default mode, but depending on your tastes this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The lower register strings and percussion get far more presence than they otherwise would, but the stage still belongs to the vocals and the higher register strings in all modes. While it may not sound the way purists would prefer, the Tone Ultra offers an engaging listening experience for classical tracks.

Like some other Bluetooth headphones out there, the Tone Ultra fades in on the first second or two of a newly selected track, which can get a little annoying after awhile. It's a small gripe, but notable.

If you're looking for a more traditionally designed Bluetooth headphone or earphone pair for exercise, both the on-ear Sennheiser MM 100 and in-ear JayBird BlueBuds X are solid options that do not include around-the-neck controls, as well as the lightweight, Editors' Choice Plantronics BackBeat Go 2. If you just need inexpensive exercise earphones and you don't care about Bluetooth, the JLab Fit is waterproof and comes with more accessories than most earphones. The LG Tone Ultra is notably light on accessories, but it offers solid, clean audio performance in a design ideal for hands-free movement at a reasonable $120 price. If big bass with no distortion and gym-friendly earphones are your top priorities in a Bluetooth pair, the Tone Ultra should be on your short list of options.

Automatic Renewal Program: Your subscription will continue without interruption for as long as you wish, unless
you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize
cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the
annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all
unsent issues. If your credit/debit card or other billing method can not be charged, we will bill you directly instead. Contact Customer Service